The West Australian newspaper carried a report, yesterday, that formalised something that some of us had known for a while. On Sunday, May 20 US retail chain Borders will begin its acquisition of the Western Australian book/music market with the opening of a three storey superstore on the Hay Street Mall. The new store, which will also include a coffee shop, is a short walk from two of the largest bookstore franchises in the state, Angus & Robertsons and Dymocks. I’ve only seen a limited number of Borders stores in Australia or the US, but this is the first I’ve seen that won’t have it’s own dedicated parking, which seems odd. Regardless of that, I’ll be surprised if either chainstore is still in business in 18 months, and a large number of smaller stores will also struggle. Borders have made no formal announcement, but another three stores in suburban centres have also been rumoured.

The final issue of Eileen Gunn’s fine online publication The Infinite Matrix is now online. Check it out. It has a great essay by Eleanor Arnason. On that note, is anyone ever going to do an Eleanor Arnason collection? Surely it must happen.

Well, it was seven years ago today that Marianne and I got all kitted up, headed out to the South Shore Country Club, and got married. Despite the threat of snow, we were lucky, and it only rained. We had a lovely ceremony, a jazz quartet at the reception, more friends and relatives than I could possibly remember, and then we headed into Manhattan to honeymoon. It was wonderful. Frustratingly, because of immigration, we had to wait until May of that year (1999) for Marianne to get out to Australia to start our married life together. Before we knew it we were parents, then parents again, travelled overseas with said offspring, bought a house, and too many other things to mention. It’s been an amazing start, and hopefully, this year will be the best yet.

Justien reports that Margo Lanagan’s Black Juice has made the honor list for this year’s Michael L. Printz Award. The other results for the Award are:

MICHAEL L. PRINTZ AWARD (best book (literary quality) for teens age 14+)

Winner:
Looking for Alaska – John Green

Honors:
Black Juice – Margo Lanagan
I am the Messenger – Markus Zusak
John Lennon: All I Want is the Truth – E. Partridge
A Wreath for Emmett Till – Marilyn Nelson

It’s that time of the year again. The good folk at Conjure have announced that nominations for the Ditmars are open.

Continue reading Ditmar nominations open →